Their world is closer than you think.
When the three Grace children - troubled Jared (Freddie Highmore); his bookish twin, Simon (Freddie Highmore); and their sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), a fencing jock - move to the ancient Spiderwick mansion, they are at first none-too-enchanted by the run-down Victorian... until they discover a Brownie, an enchanted creature, living in the walls. They soon find a book - Arthur Spiderwick's field guide to the fantastical world around you - that will open their eyes to the invisible, odd, and sometimes dangerous world of dragons and boggarts, phookas and fairies, sprites and goblins that is all around them. When they cross paths with Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), an ogre, they realise quickly that he will stop at nothing to get his hands on the Field Guide.
Special Agent Matti
The Spiderwick chronicles is a bit obvious to the adult mind but it will entertain young children, especially those who are susceptible to being frightened. We know this because that's what the Office of Film and Literature Classification tells us: "Some scenes may frighted young children". When I was a young child I really liked being frightened. I used to hide under the dining room table and watch Doctor Who. The Cybermen scared me shitless.
Meanwhile, there are lots of monsters (both friendly and hostile), there's magic, adventure, battles, mystery, thrills, wonder and spookiness. Freddie Highmore is good as the brothers Jared and Simon even if the special effects occasionally let him down.
The adventure, fantasy movie The Spiderwick chronicles is directed by Mark Waters and stars Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Martin Short.
PG (Mild fantasy violence, some scenes may frighten young children)
96 minutes (1:36 hours)
Film: 3 April 2008
